> Do software engineers really have leverage? Yes. > How could we increase our leverage? In many ways I suppose. > Why don't we choose to use our rare skill

> Do software engineers really have leverage? Yes. > How could we increase our leverage? In many ways I suppose. > Why don't we choose to use our rare skills for our own profit (as everyone else does), and instead many of us give away immense value (and power/leverage) by open sourcing our work? Collectively, IMHO we actually DO use our rare skills for our own profit well enough. Regarding open source projects. I think you are underestimating peer-recognition. This happens in most knowledge-heavy/scientific sectors. Passed a financial security threshold, money don't matter, peer-recognition does. Ancient Greeks believed that ppl die when they're forgotten. Bezos might be forgotten 200 years down the road (who was the richest man in 500 AD?), I doubt Alan Turing ever will.